Updated 6.25pm
EMPLOYMENT IS NOW increasing at a rate of over 1,000 per week, according to the latest CSO figures.
The statistics agency’s latest Quarterly National Household Survey to the end of June shows there are now 1,958,700 people at work.
With 57,100 jobs added in the last year, employment in Ireland is now at its highest level in six years.
Over the last year the number of people who were unemployed declined by 43,300, with the latest monthly unemployment rate for July standing at 9.5 per cent.
Long-term unemployment is also declining having gone from 6.8 per cent to 5.5 per cent in the year to the end of June.
This means Ireland’s unemployment rate is now lower than the average rate across the 28 EU member states.
Average unemployment in the eurozone countries stands at 11.1 per cent by comparison.
The figures are good news for the government as politicians prepare for the resumption of the Dáil next month and October’s budget with a general election also due before April next year.
Concern over youth unemployment
The National Youth Council of Ireland’s deputy director James Doorley commented: “After a steady decline since 2012, from a high of 31% to 20% at the end of 2014, youth unemployment has drifted back up again in the last six months to over 22%.”
He added:
High youth unemployment, coupled with disappointing emigration figures – where the drop in those leaving was less than we had hoped with 30,400 15 to 24 year olds emigrating – mean that although the overall trends are positive, there is only marginal improvement and the high figures are still cause for concern
He said that “we should take this as a timely reminder that Government needs to intensify efforts to address youth unemployment”.
- Additional reporting Aoife Barry
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say